Cuban Sugar Industry : Transnational Networks and Engineering Migrants in Mid-Nineteenth Century Cuba

Technological innovation was central to nineteenth-century Cuba’s lead in world sugar manufacture. Along with steam-powered machinery came migrant engineers, indispensable aliens who were well rewarded for their efforts. These migrant engineers remained perennial outsiders, symbolic of Cuba's growing economic dependency, privileged scapegoats unconsciously caught up in the island's political insecurities. This book tells the story of a group of forgotten migrant workers who anonymously contributed to Cuba's development and whose experience helps illuminate both the advance of the Cuban sugar industry and the processes by which the island was bound into global commodity-driven networks of control, dependency, and resistance. In 1844, A Number Of Migrant Engineers Were Arrested In Cuba Accused Of Sedition. Such Engineering Migrants Contributed To Cuba Becoming The World's Foremost Sugar Producer, And This Book Explores The Previously Untold Role They Played, And Seeks An Understanding Of The Interaction Between The Transnational Networks And Local Social Dynamics Within Which Cuba Was Developing. As Cuba Became Prey To Economic Dependency, The Migrant Engineers Became Privileged Scapegoats, Their Identity Defined By Their Otherness. Based Upon Archival Research, Combining A Macro- With A Micro-historical Approach, This Book Should Be Of Interest Not Only To Scholars Of Cuban History, But Also Those Whose Concerns May Include The Engagement Of Migrants With A Host Society, Historical Processes Of Globalization Related To Commodities Such As Sugar, And The Social Dynamics For Technological Development-- Nineteenth-century Cuba Led The World In Sugar Manufacture And Technological Innovation Was Central To This. Along With Steam-powered Machinery Came Migrant Engineers, Indispensable Aliens Who Were Well Rewarded For Their Efforts. But They Remained Perennial Outsiders, Symbolic Of Cuba's Growing Economic Dependency, Privileged Scapegoats Unconsciously Caught Up In The Island's Political Insecurities. This Book Tells The Story Of A Group Of Forgotten Migrant Workers Who Anonymously Contributed To Cuba's Development And Whose Experience Helps Illuminate Both The Advance Of The Cuban Sugar Industry And The Processes By Which The Island Was Bound Into Global Commodity-driven Networks Of Control, Dependency, And Resistance-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Introduction: The Escalera And The Maquinistas * Succumbing To Cane * Steam And Sugarocracy * Engineering Migration * The Engineers In Cuba * Becoming Foreign White Masters * A Deepening Sense Of Otherness * Dependency And Influence * Catalysts And Scapegoats * Conclusion: Cuban Sugar, Engineering Migrants And Transnational Networks. Jonathan Curry-machado. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In 1844, a number of migrant engineers were arrested in Cuba accused of sedition. Such engineering migrants contributed to Cuba becoming the world's foremost sugar producer, and this book explores the previously untold role they played, and seeks an understanding of the interaction between the transnational networks and local social dynamics within which Cuba was developing. As Cuba became prey to economic dependency, the migrant engineers became privileged scapegoats, their identity defined by their otherness. Based upon archival research, combining a macro- with a micro-historical approach, this book should be of interest not only to scholars of Cuban history, but also those whose concerns may include the engagement of migrants with a host society, historical processes of globalization related to commodities such as sugar, and the social dynamics for technological development"--. "Nineteenth-century Cuba led the world in sugar manufacture and technological innovation was central to this. Along with steam-powered machinery came migrant engineers, indispensable aliens who were well rewarded for their efforts. But they remained perennial outsiders, symbolic of Cuba's growing economic dependency, privileged scapegoats unconsciously caught up in the island's political insecurities. This book tells the story of a group of forgotten migrant workers who anonymously contributed to Cuba's development and whose experience helps illuminate both the advance of the Cuban sugar industry and the processes by which the island was bound into global commodity-driven networks of control, dependency, and resistance"-- NL-ZmNBD Cover......Page 1 Titlepage......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Introduction: Succumbing to Cane......Page 16 1 Steam and Sugarocracy......Page 38 2 Engineering Migration......Page 64 3 The Maquinistas in Cuba......Page 88 4 Becoming Foreign White Masters......Page 116 5 A Deepening Sense of Otherness......Page 144 6 Dependency and Influence......Page 172 7 Catalysts and Scapegoats......Page 190 Conclusion: Cuban Sugar, Engineering Migrants, and Transnational Networks......Page 210 Notes......Page 218 Bibliography......Page 246 Index......Page 264 Nineteenth-century Cuba led the world in sugar manufacture and technological innovation was central to this. Through the story of a group of forgotten migrant workers who anonymously contributed to Cuba's development, this book explores the development of the Cuban sugar industry and how the country became bound into global networks.